SSH login delay

You may expirence a ssh login dealy, between entering your username and the password prompt.

ssh delay during login
ssh login delay – Click on image to play

The cause of the delay, is when SSHD service performs reverse DNS lookup to the client’s ip address.

You can disable this feature in /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Start by makeing a backup of the file.
[Expert@gw2:0]# cp -v /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config_ORIGINAL

Now edit the file with vim.
[Expert@HostName]# vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Search for this line “#UseDNS yes”
Push Insert button and add “UseDNS no” on the line below

The file should now look like this.
#ShowPatchLevel no
#UseDNS yes
UseDNS no
#PidFile /var/run/sshd.pid
MaxStartups 10:30:100

To quit and save your settings do the following.
1. Esc
2. Shift + Q
3. wq! + Enter  (w for write q for quit)

Now you should be out of vim, and can restart the service with the command below.
[Expert@gw2:0]# service sshd restart
Stopping sshd: [ OK ]
Starting sshd: [ OK ]
[Expert@gw2:0]#

Now you whould no longer have SSH login delay. 🙂

For more info see Secure Knowledge article sk106497

Delay between user name and password prompts when log in to the gateway via SSH

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